Fastening device



Dec. 5, 1961 R. F. DRIGGS FASTENING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. finial/mg; 5' BY a I HIS ATTORNEYS I Filed Aug. 25, 1955 Dec. 5, 1961 R. F. DRIGGS FASTENING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1925 INVENTOR. 7 BY flier/A 220?! .9

HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,011,228 FASTENING DEVICE Robert F. Driggs, Pocono Ridge Road, Brookfield Center, Conn. Filed Aug. 25, 1955, Ser. No. 530,512

4 Claims. (Cl. 20--92.5)

This invention relates to a fastening device for use in attaching construction blocks or panels to the supporting structure of a building, although not' necessarily so limited. A popular form of building construction combines a steel support structure with construction blocks'or panels attached thereto for formingwalls, roof decks, ceilings, partitions, load bearing or non-load bearing, and other members of a building. Frequently, the skeletonal support structure or load bearing structure is formed from spaced steel T -beams, 'that is, beams'having a T-shaped cross-section, the spacing between beams corresponding to the length of the construction panels. The construction panels are placed between and secured to successive T- beams to provide wall, floor, roof, and ceiling surfaces.

An object of this invention is to provide a fastening device for securing construction panels to the support structure for a building, which device permits rapid assembly of the building. I I

Another object of this invention is to provide a fastening device which is readily adaptable for use in securing construction panels to both corners and straight portions of a support structure. I p a Another object of this invention is to provide a fastening device for use in assembling construction panels which section. The beams 10 are attached to the foundation 12 in a suitable manner so that the leg of the T-section is or any other suitable material. The construction panel may also be a window casing adapted for use with the fastener of this invention. The dimensions of the panel or window 14 depend on construction requirements, a surface area 2 feet by 4 feet being a typical dimension. Each construction panel 14 is drawn tightly against the two upright beams 10 by means of the novel fastening device of this invention, shown generally at 16.

The fastening device 16 shown in enlarged detail in FIGURES 2, 3, and 4, comprises two studs 18, one stud being embedded in eachof two adjacent construction panels 14, a pair of wedge members 20, and a clasp 22. The studs 18 are preferably embedded in the construction panels during manufacture of the panel. There may be a plurality of studs '18 in each construction panel 14, the

1 actual number of studs used being dependent upon the device draws the construction panels tightly against a supporting beam, thereby making the housing weatherproof and vermin proof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fastening device capable of holding a construction panel to a support during violent wind storms and the like, yet enabling slight movement of the panel to adjust for flexure of the support structure under these conditions.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a sectional perspective view of a fastening device of this invention applied to a wall assembly.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the fastening device.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the fastening device with parts shown in section.

. FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged top plan view of a plate used to form a wedge employed in the fastening device.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the Wedge.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a modification..

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the modification with parts shown in section.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second modification.

FIGURE 10 is afragmentary top plan view of the second modification with parts shown in section.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a third modification. Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURE 1 shows a wall structure including spaced upright steel T-beams size of the construction panel and the structural requirements of the building.

Each Wedge member 20 is formed from a die cut plate 24 by folding the plate 24 along the broken lines indicated in FIGURE 5. As shown in FIGURE 6, the member 20 has a pair of longitudinal aligned slots 26 extending partially the length of the member. A pair of'projections 28 extend from the larger end of the wedge. member, the length of the projections being substantially equal to the thickness of the T-beam sections.

In assembling the fastening device 16, the construction panels 14 are positioned on either side of the T-beam 10 withthe studs 18'aligned in a'horizontal plane. One wedge member 20 is driven through each of the two studs 18, the smaller end of each wedge member advancing toward the beam 10 to abut the flat side' thereof and the projection 28 abutting the construction panel 14. As shown inv FIGURE 2, the wedge members 20' are driven in at a slight angle with respect to the horizontal plane so that the smaller ends of the wedge members may traverse the T-beam 10 in adjacent positions.

With the wedge members 20 driven into position, the slots 26 in each wedge member 20 are in alignment so that the clasp 22 may be projected through theslots 26 and wrapped around both'we'dge members 20 so as to shape of the clasp 22 can be varied to suit special requirements.

It is apparent that -in assembling the fastening device 16, two functions areperformed. Each construction panel 14 is (l), drawntightly against the T-beam 10 and (2), the two panels on either side of the T-beams are fastened together. In this manner, a strong, weather tight wall can be rapidly assembled with the wedge members providing a slidable 'bOI1d between the construction panel-s enabling some movement of the panels in the event the wall is flexed by external forces such as wind storms. The fastening devices, 16 being located on the inside surface of the wall may be covered with any of a wide variety of interior wall coverings.

The fastening device of this invention may be readily modified to meet special construction needs. For example,

FIGURES 7 and 8.show a modified fastening device 30 10 projecting from a foundation 12 and layers of conjoined together to form a beam having a T-shaped crossfor making an inside corner. In this application, theend of one construction panel 14 abuts the side of another construction panel 14 forming a corner which is capped with an angle iron 32 having an L-shaped cross-section.

The wedge members 20" are driven in place through studs 18 projecting from the panels 14. In this. case, however, the wedge members are mutually perpendicular and a modified clasp 34 is used to tie the wedge member 20 together. As illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, the clasp 34'is L-shaped and has a flange 36 extending from the inner edge of each leg. The flanges 36 are projected through the slots 26 in each wedge member 20, each flange being bent around its respective wedge member to thereby tie the wedge members together.

The fastening device of this invention may be also modified to obtain a fastening device 38, for outside corners as shown in FIGURES 9 and 10. In this application, the end of one construction panel 14 abuts the side of another construction panel 14 forming a corner which is lined with an upright beam 40 having an L-shaped cross-section. The wedge members 20 are driven in place, through the studs 18 projecting from the panels 14. As in the previous modification, the wedge members 20 are mutually perpendicular and require a modified clasp 42. The clasp 42 is L-shaped and has a flange 44 extending from the outer edge of each leg thereof. The flanges 44 are projected through the slots 26 in each wedge member 28, each flange being bent around its respective wedge member to thereby tie the wedge members 20 together.

In another modification, shown in FIGURE 11, the Usha-ped studs are replaced by cylindrical studs 46 projecting from each construction panel 14. The construction panels 14 are positioned about the T-beam as before, then a plate 48 having a pair of holes (not shown) in alignment with the studs '46 is seated against the T-beam 10 so that the studs 46- project through the holes in the plate 48.

Commercial wedge shaped speed nuts 50 are used to engage the studs 46 and draw the construction panels 14 against the T beam 10. The speed nuts 50 each have a pair of inwardly directed mutually convergent tongues 52 which engage the studs 46. The tongues 52 diverge from the plane of the plate 48 as they converge mutually, so that if the speed nuts 50 are driven laterally away from each other as viewed in FIGURE 11, the studs 46 will be drawn through the plate 48, thereby drawing the construction panels '14 up to the T-beam 10.

This last modification can be further modified for constructing inside and outside corners by bending the plate 48 so that it has an L-shaped cross-section.

It is to be noted that the function of the wedge member 20 and the speed nut 50 is analogous in each modification. That is, both elements (1) slidably engage the studs projecting from the construction panels and (2) when driven laterally parallel to the wall surface, drive the stud ina direction normal to the wall surface so as to draw the.

construction panels tightly against the support beam.

Throughout this description, the fastening device has been associated with wall construction; however, the device is equally suitable for assembly of floors, ceilings, roofs, and so on. a

I The various parts of the fastening device may be constructed from iron, steel, aluminum alloy, or any other suitable material, there being no requirement that each part of the fastening device he of the same material. For example, the wedge members and studs may be fabricated from a relatively strong material such as steel and the clasps may be made of a malleable material such as iron or aluminum.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has (i. been described, it will be understood that within the'purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts,

the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A fastening device for securing two angularly disposed-construction panels to an intermediate support beam having a pair of angularly disposed flanges, there being one of said flanges abutting each construction panel, said fastening device comprising a pair of U-shaped studs, one

stud projecting from each construction panel, a pair of Wedge members slidably extending through said studs and abutting the flanges on the side opposite the construction panel, and clasp means engageable with said wedge members to tie the wedge members together.

bers, there being one wedge member extending slidably through each said stud and projecting over the adjacent flange of said support beam, said wedge members projecting one toward the other, and a clasp interconnecting said wedge members to prevent their separation one from the other.

3. The fastening device according to claim 2 wherein each said Wedge member is provided with a slot passing therethrough, said clasp having portions projecting into the slots of said wedge members for engagement therewith.

4. A fastening device for securing two constiuction panels to a support beam therebetween, said beam having a pair of flanges extending therefrom, each construction panel abutting one side of one of said flanges, said fasten: ing device abutting the opposite sides of said flanges and comprising a pair of U-shaped studs, one stud projecting from each construction panel, a pair of Wedge members extending slidably through each U-shaped stud and abutting the sides of said flanges, each wedge member hai'ing a slot therein, and a clasp member having a portion extending in the slot in each wedge member to thereby engage and bind together both wedge members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Silverman Mar. 30, 1954 

